Assessment and Reintegration Specialist

Do you demonstrate a strong interest within the Criminal justice, Health or Human Services industry ?

Be apart of a multidisciplinary team, focused on supporting and assisting the transitional needs of the men in our care.

Ability to work collaboratively with Alliance Partners and Community Correctional Services to support reintegration needs.

Full-Time salary  $80,000 to $83,000 plus superannuation.

About The GEO Group Australia

We are the country's leading provider of outsourced correctional services, operating in NSW and VIC. GEO aims to deliver better corrections and create safer communities. We focus on providing a continuum of care and integration of services to make a real difference in the lives of people we work with. Our company is defined by us always acting with Integrity, showing everyone Respect without fail, being Accountable at all times, always being Agile and continuously looking for opportunities to be Innovative. For more information about our organisation visit our website www.geogroup.com.au

To view our videos, including the type of individuals we seek to join our business, click here.

About Ravenhall Correctional Centre

Ravenhall is Victoria’s largest, medium security prison for adult sentenced and unsentenced males. Its contemporary campus-style design provides a safe and humane environment that enables and nurtures GEOs Continuum of Care operating philosophy.

Ravenhall also has a dedicated Forensic Mental Health Unit, a specialised Closed Supervision Unit for prisoners with significant challenging behaviours, and a small Mission Based Unit for prisoners who have never been in custody before.  In recognition of the importance of Continuum of Care, Ravenhall extends its presence into the community by providing ex-prisoners with access to post-release support at GEO’s Community Reintegration Centre.

With key focus on young adult offenders, Aboriginal and those with complex and mental health needs, prisoners at Ravenhall have significant opportunities to engage in work, education, programs and services, through an evidence based approach to reduce re-offending.

Ravenhall’s unprecedented emphasis on offender rehabilitation and reintegration is evidenced through collaborative and integrated relationships with key Alliance service partners including Forensicare, Correct Care Australia, YMCA, Honeywell and Bendigo Kangan Institute of Tafe.

To learn more about Ravenhall Correctional Centre, click here.

About the Opportunity

The Assessment and Reintegration Specialist plays a critical role in undertaking a suite of assessments that inform the case planning, referral pathways and service delivery for prisoners. This includes reception assessments to determine transition needs, reintegration needs assessments, risk assessments to determine dynamic risk factors and general recidivism risk, and assessment of other factors that contribute to the development of case-management plans.

The Assessment and Reintegration Specialists facilitate information sessions for prisoners on leaving prison, managing health and mental health issues post-release and succeeding on parole or a community-based order. They work closely with the prisoner’s custodial case manager and other program providers in meeting their identified needs. Importantly they interface with The Bridge Centre post-release services to support a continuum of care for prisoners as they reintegrate into the community. 

Assessment and Reintegration Specialists form part of the greater multi-disciplinary team and report to the Assessment and Reintegration Team Leader.

• Assess the transition and reintegration needs of prisoners within required time-frames to determine appropriate programs, services and referrals for meeting their post-release needs.
• Provide prisoners with practical transition and reintegration assistance such as assisting with utility disconnection, access to back accounts and identification in addition to assisting prisoners with access to Centrelink, Disability Services and other external support agencies.
• Provide prisoners with access to information about the parole application process and attend case-review meetings for prisoners who have applied for parole.
• Schedule and facilitate prisoner information sessions. 
• Attend pre-release Case Management meetings.
• Work collaboratively with all program areas including custodial, non-custodial, Alliance Partners, Forensicare and Correct Care, to ensure the reintegration needs of prisoners are prioritised appropriately.
• Liaise with Community Correctional Services (CCS) staff attending Ravenhall to undertake Parole Suitability Assessments in relation to local orientation and support.
• Effectively, efficiently and accurately manage data entry and provide written reports as required.
• Participate as a member of the broader Transition and Reintegration team, reporting to the Assessment and Reintegration Coordinator.
• Conduct daily reception assessments to determine prisoners’ immediate transition and accommodation needs
• Conduct forensic risk assessments for sentenced prisoners to determine risk of recidivism including key risks and issues that informs treatment planning.
• Administer the Good Lives Assessment Tool (GLAT) to explore areas to improve prisoner’s quality of life. assessments for prisoners serving greater than 6 months to explore areas of life enhancement
• Liaise with custodial case-mangers in relation to the development of case-management plans in line with information identified through assessment.
• Liaise with Aboriginal Programs Staff and Cultural Advisor in relation to new receptions who identify as indigenous or culturally and linguistically diverse.

Your Skills & Experience

To be successful in the role you will have:

Essential. 

• An undergraduate degree in social work, welfare, psychology, criminology or other related human services area or equivalent professional experience.
• A thorough understanding of the Offender Management Framework and the principles underpinning assessment, offender engagement and reintegration.
• Knowledge and understanding of, the issues faced by individuals who have been institutionalised including issues of adjustment, behaviour, transition and reintegration.
• Ability to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team in a correctional environment involving direct contact with prisoners.
• Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills and attitudinal characteristics conducive to non-judgmental evaluations of prisoners.
• Ability to administer assessment tools, analyse and record data, prepare plans and make referrals to service providers.
• Well-developed time management and organisational skills, in addition to the ability to formulate and clearly communicate by way of written communication, prisoner needs based on available information.
• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn and navigate various information management systems.
• Ability to coordinate and deliver programs related to the transitional needs of prisoners including those released to parole and the community.

Desirable

• Experience in assessment and the development of case formulations and treatment recommendations
• Previous experience working with mandated clients.
• Certificate II in Assessment and Case Management.
• Certificate III in Correctional Practice.

To view a full Position Description please click here. 

About the Benefits

Joining GEO is your chance to make a real and lasting difference in the lives of prisoners, their families and the community. Benefits of working for GEO, include but are not limited to:

• Role diversity and internal career progression opportunities
• Ongoing funding for professional development opportunities (including further education sponsorship)
• Support with Professional Registration costs
• Flexible working arrangements
• Competitive salary and rewards scheme
• Free parking
• Employee Assistance Program
• Staff gym
• Subsidised meals

   

   

   

  To be considered for this role, applicants must submit a cover letter and a current resume.

  For any enquiries, or to discuss the position in more detail please contact Recruitment at ravenhallcareers@geogroup.com.au   

  This is a rare opportunity to join an organisation that is growing and dedicated to improving our communities. Don't wait - Apply Now!

   Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are highly encouraged to apply

  Applications close at 11:55pm, Sunday 19 May 2024.

   

  We are always looking for people to join our company who share the values that we stand for:  

  INTEGRITY          RESPECT         ACCOUNTABLE       AGILE         INNOVATIVE